Funding will Support 50 Cannabis Businesses in 28 Communities

Boston, MA - On April 16, 2024 the Healey-Driscoll administration awarded 50 grants to cannabis social equity businesses in 28 communities, totaling $2,350,000, through the Cannabis Social Equity Trust Fund (CSETF). These awards follow Governor Healey’s recent pardon of marijuana possession misdemeanor offenses as part of the administration’s efforts to advance equity and justice in Massachusetts.

The Cannabis Social Equity Trust Fund was established to provide financial assistance to eligible applicants for the purpose of encouraging the full participation in the state’s regulated marijuana industry of entrepreneurs from communities that have been disproportionately harmed by marijuana prohibition and enforcement. The Immediate Needs Grant Program was launched in January as the first grant program to offer financial assistance from the Trust Fund to support eligible cannabis social equity license holders with urgent financial needs.

“Our administration is committed to righting historic wrongs from the War on Drugs, both by addressing inequities in the criminal justice system and by advancing equity in the cannabis industry. With the Cannabis Social Equity Trust Fund, we’re creating a sustainable and inclusive path to the industry for Massachusetts entrepreneurs that have faced barriers to entry,” said Governor Maura Healey. “This funding will fill critical gaps necessary to allow social equity businesses to grow and succeed here in Massachusetts."

“Marijuana prohibition and enforcement has historically disadvantaged those living in communities of color. With the Cannabis Social Equity Trust Fund, we are rewriting this narrative and providing a secure path for aspiring social equity cannabis entrepreneurs to succeed,” said Lieutenant Governor Driscoll. 

"The Immediate Needs Grant Program exemplifies our commitment to advancing equity within the cannabis industry in Massachusetts,” said Secretary of Economic Development Yvonne Hao. “This inaugural round of funding will not only boost our economy in new ways, but also reaffirms that our state is the best place for business.” 

The Cannabis Social Equity Trust Fund was established by Section 14A of Chapter 94G of the General Laws. The legislation also established the Cannabis Social Equity Advisory Board, to work with and advise EOED on the administration of the Trust Fund.

"I am proud to join the Healey-Driscoll administration to celebrate the inaugural round of awardees from the Cannabis Social Equity Trust Fund," said State Senator Gomez, Senate Chair of the Legislature’s Cannabis Policy Committee. "Given the precedent set by prohibition era measures, commonly known as the War of Drugs, this financial assistance is only the beginning of sound legislation to address the dire need many cannabis dispensaries have vocalized. I look forward to advocating alongside my colleagues in the legislature for additional funding for entrepreneurs and communities in the Hampden district and across the Commonwealth."

“The Social Equity Trust Fund is the product of tireless effort from many advocates, stakeholders, and my colleagues in the Legislature to better ensure equitable access to the Cannabis industry. I would like to thank Speaker Mariano for his leadership and commitment to advancing this social equity fund last session,” said Representative Dan Donahue, House Chair of the Legislature’s Cannabis Policy Committee. “Thank you as well to the Social Equity Trust Fund board for their work in advising the administration on the program and their continuing efforts to address the wrongs of the War on Drugs with this access to capital.” 

The grant awardees are: 

Advesa MA, Inc.  
City of Cambridge, $50,000

Apple Guy Flowers, LLC 
Town of Uxbridge, $50,000

Aunty Budz LLC 
Town of Florence, $50,000 

Bada Bloom! Inc. 
Town of Tyngsborough, $50,000 

Bailey's Buds LLC 
Town of Dracut, $50,000 

Belle Fleur Holdings LLC 
Town of Blandford, $50,000 

Blossom Flower LLC  
Town of Holyoke, $50,000 

Blue Sky Organics LLC 
Town of Newton, $50,000 

Boston Bud Factory Inc.  
Town of Holyoke, $50,000 

Bracts & Pistils, LLC 
Town of Taunton, $50,000 

Cloud 9 Cultivation LLC 
City of Quincy, $20,000 

DB Delivery MA, LLC 
City of Boston, $33,000 

Delivered, Inc. 
Town of Clinton, $30,000 

Dris Corporation 
Town of Natick, $50,000 

Elevation Inc.  
City of Brockton, $50,000 

Ember Gardens Delivery LLC 
Town of Somerset, $50,000 

Freshly Baked Company 
City of Taunton, $50,000 

Gan Or LLC 
Town of Northampton, $50,000 

Gas Bus LLC 
City of Boston, $50,000 

Grassp Ventures LLC 
City of Salem, $50,000 

Green Flash Delivery LLC 
City of Boston, $50,000 

Greener Leaf, Inc. 
Town of Fall River, $50,000

Greenerside Holdings, LLC 
City of Boston, $50,000  

Herbal Power LLC 
City of Boston, $50,000 

Holyoke Smokes Corp  
Town of Holyoke, $50,000 

Home Grown 617 LLC  
City of Cambridge, $50,000 

Infused Element 
Town of Holyoke, $35,000 

JimBuddys Rec Shop, Inc. 
Town of Chicopee, $50,000 

KG Collective Brockton, LLC 
City of Brockton, $32,000 

KindRun Massachusetts, LLC 
Town of Hudson, $50,000 

Lucky Green Ladies, LLC 
Town of Norton, $50,000 

Major Bloom 
City of Worcester, $50,000 

Motah 420 LLC 
Town of Adams, $50,000 

New Dia, LLC  
City of Worcester, $50,000 

On Root, LLC  
Town of Lynn, $50,000 

Paper Crane Provisions LLC 
Town of Hubbardston, $50,000 

Primus LLC 
City of Springfield, $50,000 

Rolling Releaf, LLC 
Town of Newton, $50,000 

Rooted In LLC  
City of Boston, $50,000 

Royal Sun Farm LLC  
Town of Hubbardston, $50,000 

Social-J, LLC 
Town of Northampton, $25,000 

Stone's Throw Cannabis LLC  
City of Boston, $25,000 

Team Green, LLC 
City of Boston, $50,000 

Teddy's Veggie Farm 
Town of Spencer, $50,000 

The Heritage Club LLC  
City of Boston, $50,000 

Treevit LLC  
Town of Athol, $50,000 

Underground Legacy Social Club LLC  
City of Boston, $50,000  

Uproot LLC  
City of Worcester, $50,000 

Verdant Reparative Inc. 
City of Boston, $50,000 

Zyp Run, Inc.  
City of Boston, $50,000